Finally got to the "root" (or actually, ring gear) of this problem.

I'd always though something was fishy, and sure enough, when Hans finally convinced the owner to go ahead and have the tranny removed and car returned to the shop (Hans no longer does trannies on these cars since he works alone), the flywheel was indeed wront -- it appears that the ring gear was incorrectly installed 120 degrees off.

Ring gear is being R&R'd to reposition and Hans will get the car back shortly to tune up the ignition and fuel system (mostly new by now!).

I guess no one understood that a ring gear replacement requires removing the tranny, as all three owners were quite certain the transmission had never been out.

So this story has a happy ending -- and a caveat for other owners of similar cars: if it runs like crap after a ring gear replacement, the ring gear or slywheel was incorrectly installed! It's not necessary, nor particularly desirable, to install a Holley carb insted of the FI......

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!